Fresh violence rocks Shillong

1,000 security personnel rushed in

The situation in troubletorn Shillong deteriorated on Monday when a mob of nearly 150 people defied the curfew and barged into the state secretariat building where Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma was chairing an all-party meeting to discuss ways to manage the escalating crisis.

The demonstration at the secretariat caused a security scare as the protesters broke the main gate of the building and shouted slogans, forcing the state administration to call the Army.

The Army controlled the situation and carried out a flag-march in the area, security sources said.

The Centre has rushed an additional 1,000 paramilitary personnel to Meghalaya. This is in addition to four CRPF and two ITBP companies sent earlier.

A four-member ministerial team from Punjab met the Meghalaya chief minister on Monday and assessed the situation. A one-man team of National Commission for Minorities will visit Shillong on Tuesday.

Violence broke out last Thursday after local Khasi people clashed with Sikh migrants from Punjab, who largely work as sanitation workers in Shillong, after a Khasi bus handyman was allegedly beaten up by Punjabi Line colony residents over a parking issue. More than 10 people, including policemen, were injured in the violence.

The Khasi protesters are demanding the relocation of the Sweeper Colony from the Punjabi Line area and arrest of those involved in alleged violence against the locals.

Monday’s protest at the secretariat came within hours of a mob of nearly 400 youths defying the curfew and injuring three CRPF personnel by pelting stones at their camp near the Mowlai bridge on Sunday night.

After the curfew was relaxed for eight hours on Sunday, beginning at 5 am, fresh bouts of violence were reported.